Associated Impact
Inflammatory responses interrupt the critical alveolarization phase of lung development, restricts alveolar numbers/size, impairs lung growth with consequent reduced vital capacity and proportional reduction in forced expiratory volume or obstructive lung disease.
Other associated impact is that from maternal smoking and other maternal factors, nutrition and allergic sensitisation. All these have negative influences on lung function.
Infants are more likely to have lung infections and independently more likely to have adult lung disease and/or poorer lung function. Pneumonia pathogens can damage ciliated bronchiolar epithelium and connective tissue. Also airway clearance defences is impaired.
The cycle of repeated or persistent infection and inflammation involving airway infiltration by activated neutrophils and CD4+ T-lymphocytes, can lead to degradation of bronchial wall supporting structures, bronchial dilatation and ultimately bronchiectasis.
In indigenous communities and developing countries bronchiectasis is associated with preterm delivery and episodes of early and recurrent pneumonia during infancy. Adults with recently diagnosed bronchiectasis had associated with repeated lower respiratory tract infections during childhood.
Conclusions
Pneumonia in children causes a considerable worldwide burden of mortality and morbidity in survivors. Infectious insults in the first 1–3 years of life are independently associated with an increased risk of impaired lung function in adulthood. This is greatest in those with severe pneumonia hospitalized for treatment. The long-term effects associated with early childhood pneumonia include restrictive or obstructive lung function deficits and increased risk of adult asthma, non-smoking related COPD, and bronchiectasis.
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